So I bought a new domain over the weekend, mostly because I’m compulsively acquisitive, and I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it. At first I was just going to buy the name, because I didn’t want to lose the chance (as if there were legions clamoring for the rights to beverlytjerngren.com), but… Read More On writing

Until a few weeks ago I had never heard of “peat plugs,” and until yesterday was I wasn’t even totally sure what they were. Now I’m wondering how I ever lived without them. The purchase of a hundred of these miraculous little disks has revolutionized my pelargonium propagation project (doncha just love a little unexpected… Read More Saturday

Tage and I went on a raspberry hunt this afternoon because I had been assured that there were raspberries two houses over, at Olof’s sister’s place. Since they’re on a six-week trip to Iceland and not expected back for a month or so, I figured they wouldn’t mind if we raided their bushes. Imagine my… Read More Friday

After putting it off almost until the last possible day, I finally got most of my Mosaic Minds work done for the upcoming issue. I’m still waiting to hear back from one author approving the editorial changes to her work, and for a couple of last-minute features, but at least I’ve cleared the biggest hurdles.… Read More ‘zine stuff

Whenever I look at the calendar I’m caught off-guard by the fact that’s it’s only mid-August. With the distinct chill of autumn in the air and Lydia’s having gone back to school today, it’s indisputably fall, no matter how much the date might suggest otherwise (yes, yes, I know … mid- to late August is… Read More Wednesday

So Crown Princess Mary–you know, the Australian chick who married the Danish prince?–well anyway, apparently she’s not pregnant, so I guess that’s one bow I can untie from my finger. I’d been trying to remind myself ever since I read the tabloid headline a couple of weeks ago at the grocery store to tell Olof… Read More Sunday

My front lawn is strewn with little grey feathers and riddled with partially-eaten bird and rodent corpses. Åsa is a huntress extraordinaire, which causes me no end of distress. It’s bad enough that she has to kill all those unsuspecting little creatures — the least she could do is dispose of their remains somewhere I’m… Read More Predation

A great day ’round these parts! Tage turned two years old today and we had a nice little party to celebrate. The first guest to arrive was Helena and it was nice to have a few minutes to chat before I had to go into hostess mode. She’s going to come out and stay over… Read More Friday the 13th

This is the last week of “vacation” but I’m feeling too stressed out by everything we’ve got coming up in the next several weeks to be able to relax and enjoy my few remaining free days. Lydia desperately needs a haircut before school starts next Wednesday, but none of the places here in our little… Read More Thursday

If there were any justice in the world, at least one member of this family would be a neat freak. I spent a good portion of this afternoon helping Lydia clean out her old room and move her stuff into her new room. In addition to her furniture, books, and toys, we took out six… Read More Dirty little secret